I recently stumbled upon a vintage Chanel brooch, the oldest Chanel piece to be added to the collection. It has the Chanel stamp indicating that it was made between 1954 and 1970, but I have a hunch it is closer to 1954. What thrills me about this brooch is that it is clearly inspired by Coco Chanel’s love of Coromandel screens from Japan. The tiny fans have Japanese birds engraved on them and are just exquisite. If anyone out there can shed light on when this was made I would love to hear from you!

Antonio Marras showed his collection for Fall 2011 in Milan on February 25, 2011. Taking inspiration from his mother Nannina, this collection pays homage not only to his mother but the forties were celebrated with cinched in waists, red lips, stockings, and floral dresses. Team this inspiration with Marras’s elegant eclectic style and wonderful layering, it is absolutely one of my favourites for next season. Below is a piece from Nina Polli Vintage that for me evokes a similar quality.